Saddle



A ril 14, 1942. R. w. FAULHABER SADDLE Filed Feb. 4, 1939 INVENTOR.

ROLAND W.F ULHABEQ BY 7 ATTORNEY-.5

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 lTED STATES SADDLE Roland W; Faulhaber, Monroeville, Ohio, assignor to The Faulhaber Company, Monroeville, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 4, 1939, Serial No. 254,664

8 Claims.

This invention relates to saddles for bicycles, velocipedes and the like.

The principal feature of this invention is the provision of an ornamental and protective housing carried by the reach or spring supporting member of the saddle and covering the lower ends of the springs and the connections of the springs to the reach so as to conceal the relatively unsightly lower ends and connections of the springs and make the entire saddle more pleasing in appearance, and at the same time to prevent clothing or other articles or the hands of the user from being caught, torn or scratched by the lower ends of the springs or the connections of the springs to the reach.

, Other features of this invention are an improved and simplified connection of the upper ends of the springs to the saddle base without the use of bolts, rivets or the like; an improved and simplified connection of the lower ends of the springs to the reach member; an improved reach; and a combination spring construction and ornamental and protective housing carried by the reach in which the housing aids in retaining the spring in cooperative relation with the reach member.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saddle embody- Ing th present invention;

ering material extends completely over the forward or nose portion and in the illustrated embodiment likewise extends downwardly over at terial are turned under the depending edges of longitudinally arranged piece Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the saddle shown in Figure 1 taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the saddle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detailed view partly in section and partly in plan taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

' Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the housing members before being attached to the reach.

Referring to the drawing, the novel Spring assembly of this invention is illustrated in combination with a seat, consisting generally of a sheet metal base member ID having a relatively narrow front end or nose portion, flaring into a widened portion and terminating-in an outwardly flared skirt II. Suitable cushioning material I2 is disposed upon the seating portion of the base member Ill and is covered by a covering sheet of leather or other suitable material I3. The covthe base member II). In the illustrated embodiment suitable metal ornamental and protective members I4 are mounted upon the side portions of th outwardly fiaredskirt portion II of the base member and are provided with relatively narrow arms I5 extending across the center of the outwardly flared portion- II. I The members I 4 may be made as separate pieces with their arms I5 abutting at the center of the saddle or maybe made in one piece. The members I4 preferably encompass the widest portion of the seat and thereby serve as buffers to protect the seat. The edge of the covering sheet I3 is se'- cured under the edges of the metal members I4.

The reach member illustrated consists of a. I6 of relatively stiff sheet metal stock having its forward end bent into a hook I! to cooperate with a plate I8 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the base member I0 and a laterally arranged channel piece I9 formed at its opposite ends to receive, the lower ends of the springs. The forward end of the reach may be connected to the seat in any other suitable manner and a nose coil may be used if desired. Two coiled compression springs 20 are provided, each spring being connected to one end of the cross member I9 of; the reach and to the seat. In accordance with one feature of the invention the cross member I9 is formed with flanges 2| which are turned inwardly adjacent the ends of the cross member I9 over the lowermost convolutions of the springs 20, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, to securely; fasten the springs to the reach. The intermediate portion of the flanges 2| are slotted'to receive the rear end of the longitudinal member I6, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and theoverlapping parts of the member I6 and I9 are secured together by spot welding, pressed detents, or the like.

According to another feature of the invention the springs are formed right and left hand'and the upper ends are extended into tangential arms 22 which slidably fit within a sleeve member 23' formed on or secured'to the base I0. As illustrated the'sleeve 23 is formed by a plate 24 riveted or weldedto the base I0 and having apor tion bent into generally cylindrical. form to fit eter of the springs are located within the upper ends of the springs. As illustrated, these bosses 25 are formed from pressed out portions of the base H), but they may also of the plate 24. z

The ornamental and protective housings for be formed as parts articles from being caught or torn by the lower end of the springs or the spring connections and likewise prevent the hands of the user from being caught or scratched at these points.

the lower ends of the springs arepreferably mounted'upon the reach member I6 so as to ex-.

tend below the reach and concealand cover the lower-ends or the springs and the connection ofthe springs; with the reach, As; illustrated these housings are formed as integral drawn sheet metalicups 21- having a generally tear drop or streamlined, shape'. Each housing is formed on one sidewith-a slot 28; of; a size to closely lit the endof the cross member IQ of the reach lfi and on. the opposite side; is formed with a pair of notches 29 separated by. a lag 30, the notches 28- and lug 30. having a combined length equal to the width of; the cross member I9. The cross member l9 is formed-with a slot 31 of a size to receive-the lug 30, these slots being spaced from the, free endsof the,cross member I9- a distance slightly greater than the width of the housings 21. I Aiter the-springs are assembledupon the reach member l6 as. described above, thehousings 21 are-placed over the lower ends of the springs, the ends of the cross member I9 of the reach entered inthe slots 28, and the lugs projected through the slots; 3i and bent over as illustrated in Figures-4and 5. At the same time the lugs 30 are bent over, the turned downportions of the flanges 21 may be pressed tightly against the lowermost convolutions of the springs 20. The housings preferablyhave a width, substantially equal to the outsidediameterof the springs as illustrated in Figures, 4 and 5. so. that when they are secured in position they prevent sliding of the springs withir'i-the. turned down portions of the flanges 2 I. he entitre reach and spring assembly is then connected to the seat member by turning the reach so that the hooked end I! can be entered in the slot in. the member l8 and thenswinging the reach upwardly until the springs app oach their proper positions against the under side of the base [0. The upper ends of the springs are then. distorted so. that the arms 22 may be forced, intothe sleeve 23 and the upper coils snapped overthe bosses. 2,5, and when so assembled the spring and, reach assembly is, securely connected withthe seat; I

Itwill beunderstood, of course, that the ornamentaland protective housings 21 may. be made of any desired; shape toblend pleasingly with the seat itself or with-the. bicycleor velocipede upon which the seat is to be mounted. Likewise these housings canbe secured to any desired'type of reach, and may beused with any desired type of connections of the springsto the seat and to the the lower ends of the springs and the connections of the springs with the reach the housings 2| not only enhancethe appearance of the saddle, but alsopreventthe clothing of ,thegrider or other reach member. When mounted in position over endsex-tending toward each other, and a trans- In the preferred embodiment as illustrated the metal members [4 secured to the sides of the seat are formed with a generally tear drop or stream lined shape and the housings 21 are formed with a corresponding shape. Likewise, it is preferred to make both the members l4 and the housings 21, of bright metal such as stainless steel or plated 2 metal to provide a vivid contrast with the relatively dark colored covering member l3 which covers all of. the remainder of the visible portion of the seat. In some embodiments, however, the

members M- and the housings 21 are painted to harmonize with the coloring of the covering material, I3 and the color scheme of the cycle.

Preferably an ornamental member of some kind is secured to the flared skirt member H at therear of the saddle. As illustrated a sheet metal piece 32 having the; general shape of an airplaneis provided with a plurality of lugs projectingthrough the. covering member [3. and the; metal, of theflared skirt, portion ll and turned.

over on the inside of the saddle to secure the ornamental member in place.

The novel spring connections to the seat and tothe reach. may likewise be used with any other type ofseat or reach member if desired, although in the preferred, embodiment as illustrated all of thesejvarious, features are. combined to provide alight, serviceable saddle having a striking and distinctive appearance that can be manufactured;

very economically.

Thesaddle illustrated may be secured. to a cycle by a. clamp on the reach member l6, as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 254,665,

filed. February 4, 1939, or a. post may be riveted. directlyto the'reach member 16.

Although the preferred embodiment of the in-,

vention has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood. thatmany variations and modifications may be. made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A. saddle for cycles and, the like comprising a seat member, a reach member,.means connecting the forward end of the reach member to the seat member, a. pair of springs connected to the rear portions of the reach member and seat member, and a pair of ornamental and protective housings secured to-the, reach member and extending below said springs and said reach member, and below the connections between said springs and said reach member, each of said housings being generally cup-shaped with its upper end open and receiving and preventing contact with the lower end of one of said springs, and with its lower end closed and free of the loads transmitted by said springs to said reach.

2;. A. saddle for cycles and the like comprising a, seat, a sheet metal generally T-shaped reach, means connecting the stem portion of the reach to theforward end: of the seat, a pair of coil springs secured: to the cross member of the reach with their, axes disposed substantially normal'to the crossmember and: to the. seat, said springs being oppositely wound and having their upper verselyextending, sleeve member on the underside of said; seat. receiving the ends of said springs;

3. A; saddle for'cycles-and the like comprising a seat, a sheet metal generally T-sha-ped reach, means connecting the stem portion of the reach to the forward end of the seat, a pair of coil springs secured to the cross member of the reach, said springs being oppositely wound and having their upper ends straight and extending toward each other, a transversely extending sleeve member on the underside of said seat receiving the straight ends of said springs, and bosses projecting from the seat and fitting inside the upper ends of said springs.

4. A saddle for cycles and the like including a reach member having laterally extending arms, a coil spring secured to each of said arms, and a pair of ornamental and protective housings secured to said reach, each of said housings being generally cup-shaped and being formed with 'a slot on its outer side through which the end of one of said arms extends.

5. A saddle for cycles and the like including a reach member having laterally extending flanged arms, a coil spring carried by each of said arms, each of said springs having its lower portion disposed between its respective arm and the inwardly bent flanges thereof, and a pair of ornamental and protective housings secured to said arms, each of said housings being formed with a slot on its outer side through which the end of its respective arm extends, and means securing the inner sides of said housings to said arm.

6. A saddle for cycles and the like including a seat, a reach having its forward end connected to said seat, said reach having laterally extending flanged arms supporting coil springs, each of said springs having its lower portion disposed between its respective arm and the inwardly bent flanges thereof, the upper ends of said springs portions on the underside of said seat receiving said extended straight portions and constituting the sole means connecting the upper ends of said springs to said seat.

'7. A saddle for cycles and the like, a seat member, a reach consisting of a longitudinally extending flat member having its forward end connected to the forward end of said seat member,

and a laterally extending flanged member having its flanges formed with slots receiving the rear end of said longitudinally extending member, means securing the overlapping portions of said laterally and longitudinally extending members together and springs connected to said laterally extending member and to said seat member.

8. A saddle for cycles and the like comprising a seat member, a reach member, means connecting the forward end of the reach member to the seat member, a pair of coil springs having their upper ends connected to the rear portion of the seat member, means connecting the lower ends of said springs to the rear portion of the reach member so as to transmit loads from said springs directly through said means to the reach member, and a pair of ornamental and protective housings secured to the reach member, each of said housings comprising a drawn metal cup having its upper end open and receiving the lower end of one of said springs and being closed below said reach, said housings concealing and preventing contact with the lower ends of said springs but being free of the loads transmitted by said springs to said reach.

ROLAND W. FAULHABER.

having extended straight portions, and sleeve I 

